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Minegishi Minami demoted to Kenkyuusei + posts a video message with shaved head

Shukan Bunshun reported with their latest issue published on January 31st, that AKB48 member Minegishi Minami spent a night at the house of GENERATION member Shirahama Alan. Now, on AKB48's official blog, it was announced that she will be demoted to Kenkyuusei starting on February 1, 2013.

It also says that they will announce further details on Minegishi's activities when it's decided.

There was a video message from Minegishi who shaved her head which was posted on AKB48's official YouTube channel.

Below is the video and the translation.

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I am very sorry for worrying the members, you fans, staff members, my family, and many people for the article about me on a weekly magazine that will be released today.

As the first generation member of AKB48 that was formed back in 2005, I was supposed to be in the position where I always had to act as a role model for the junior members. However, what I have done was such a thoughtless and a lack of self-awareness behavior.

Since my mind is still in blank, I did not know what to do or what I can do, but as I just saw the magazine, I could not sit still, so I decided all by myself to shave my head without even telling the members or my agency.

I do not expect that I would be forgiven by doing this, but what I first thought was that I did not want to quit AKB48.

I was unable to think of leaving AKB48 now where the members I love and spent my youth together, and you warm fans are. I know this is being over‐optimistic, but I want to stay as Minegishi Minami of AKB48 if possible.

It was all my fault about this. I am very sorry.

I will leave everything to Akimoto-sensei's and the management's judgement. Though I haven't been able to sort out my feelings, I just wanted to tell you how I was feeling right now.